‘Dexter’: Dexter Is Going To Get Himself Killed If He Keeps Changing

On the penultimate episode of ‘Dexter,’ our favorite serial killer made decision after decision that went against his personality and more importantly his code, and things didn’t go so well. As sad it may be, Dexter is going to have to go back to his old ways if he wants to save his own life and the lives of his loved ones.

Dexter (Michael C. Hall) has always had an odd relationship with his father (James Remar), or rather his personal subconscious projection of his father, because let’s be honest, that guy died before the show even started. But that imaginary dialogue, no matter how psychotic, has always kept Dexter out of danger. So when Dex — a changed man — finally resolved that he no longer needed his dad on the second-to-last episode of the series, it was only a sign of bad things to come.

Dexter Lets Saxon Escape

For those who watched the episode (and for those who haven’t, prepared to be spoiled), you know what happened next — Dexter left Oliver Saxon chained to an operating chair and headed to the airport with breezy Buenos Aires clogging his mind. It didn’t take long for Saxon to convince the snooping U.S. Marshall to free him, then turn right around and murder him, and then shoot a surprised Debra (Jennifer Carpenter) in the gut.

“Maybe I’m not the old Dexter,” Dex told his dad earlier in the episode. The unfortunate thing is, man, you need to be the old Dexter.

Dexter Needs To Go Back To The Good Ol’ Days

Let’s take a moment to recall the first time we met Dexter — more than a decade into his life as a serial killer, he was pretty much worry-free. He had a girlfriend (aww, poor Rita) who he pretended to love, a job that he was damn good at, and a nighttime hobby that no one knew about. He had figured out how to blend in — how to satisfy his killing urges without implicating himself or anyone else.

And that’s all because of The Code, which was bestowed upon him by Harry and yes, Dr. Vogel (Charlotte Rampling), both of whom are now dead.

Over the course of these eight seasons though Dexter has decided that he wants to do more than just pretend to have real emotions and relationships. But what he doesn’t realize is that he can’t be half cool dad, half serial killer. And since he already spent so much of his life as the latter, well, it’s a little too late to decide he wants to become a family man.

Which is why the series finale is going to open with Dexter’s life in complete disarray. Oliver Saxon said it in the last episode — Dexter has a whole lot to lose.

Dexter Can’t Forget His Serial Killer Ways

Dexter might actually end up being a tragedy — a story about a boy who was misdiagnosed and wrongly condemned to a life of killing, only to grow up and realize that he isn’t a psychopath. And that’s pretty depressing.

But at this point, Dex needs to play the cards he was dealt. Ironically, the only way to save himself, Debra, his son, and even Hannah (ugh!), is to stop acting like he loves them, even if he actually does.

Dexter, a word of advice — the next time you have someone like Saxon strapped to a chair, follow The Code and stab that dude in the heart.